76. SNAKE GOURD

                                            SNAKE GOURD

As the name suggests this vegetable looks like a snake. It is generally cooked and made into curry.

        Snake gourd contains mainly water; little protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates. It also has minerals like calcium, iron phosphorus and vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin and niacin and a substantial amount of carotene. Calories: 20 kcal.

Benefits:

1. Snake gourd is the most valuable house hold cure for common illness.

2. Juice made from leaves is good for palpitation of heart and chest pain due to physical exercise.

3. Boil snake gourd and drink during fever. It is a good thirst reliever and laxative.

4. Root of snake gourd is a good purgative and a tonic.

5. Constipation: Leaves are good for digestion and help cure constipation. One spoon of the juice should be given early in the morning.

6. Baldness: Leaf juice is used in the treatment of alopecia, a disease of the scalp which leads to total baldness.

7. Jaundice: Leaves are used in treatment of jaundice. Boil with coriander seeds and drink. This drink is also good to induce vomiting during fever.

8. Snake gourd has a cooling effect on the body.

9. Obesity: Snake gourd is low in calories and rich in nutrients. Hence it is good for people trying to reduce weight.

10. Heart problems: Snake gourd helps reduce palpitation and pain in heart produced due to physical work.

11. Fever: Snake gourd is good cure for fever. Drink a decoction of snake gourd. It is also a good laxative. You can also take a decoction of the leaves with coriander.

12. Poisoning: Juice of snake gourd is given to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning. It is also applied on the body in case of liver congestion.

13. Baldness: leaf juice is applied on the scalp as a treatment for alopecia, which results in baldness.

14. Root of snake gourd is used as a purgative and a tonic.

Danger: Ripe snake gourd can cause indigestion for it is a laxative.